Policy Brief: Responsible Mineral Supply Chains for ASM in Africa - The Case of Conflict Minerals

The issue of responsible mineral supply chains has taken centre stage in the African mining sector in the last few decades as a response to the challenge of conflict minerals. ASM is often fraught with controversy and this is especially the case with conflict minerals.

Conflict minerals have attracted world attention in view of concerns over abuse of revenues that come from high value minerals that are extracted in conflict zones of the world. It has been documented that mineral trade, taxation and transportation from certain regions provide an income to groups that violate environmental and human rights and perpetrate corruption.